Commtjtatob-slotting machine



latented May 6, 1919.A

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

F.. E. AURAND.

coMMuTAToR sLoTTlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IULY l0. 1918.

F. E. AURAND.

COMMUTATOR SLOT'TING MACHINE.

APPLlcATloN HLED JULY 1o. 19m.

1,303,011. Patented Mayn, 19ML 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

omzaw? n UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. AUBAND, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF GUY W.ALUNN, CF RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS'.

ooMMUTAToR-SLOTTTNG MACHINE.

Application flied Juiy io, 191s y To all whom t may concern:

of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inVCommutatorl of mica.

Slotting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forminga part of this specication. f

My invention relates to commutator slotting machines'.

The insulating material vbetween the copper bars of commutatorsgenerally consists When the commutator is assembledthe mica is put underpressure and forms a dense Vhard mass which resists wear to a greaterdegree than does the metal of the commutator bars. It is customary toundercut the mica slightly where the commut'ator is lrst put out..

Unless this is done the rubbing of tlief brushes will wear the copperbelow -the level of the mica and then chattering and eXcessivewear' ofthe brushes, and bad running. results because-of the mica. project?V ingabove the copper of the commutators.

My invention aims to provide a suitabley slotting machine for cuttingaway to the desired ,degree the insulation between bars. The presentinvention-is an improvement upon the device of my prior Patent Number1,260,125 granted March 19th 1918.

V'Vhile the prior device has proven to be 'highly satisfactory inservice, I have found that as to certain details'of construction 'thepresent device is markedly. superior. It is one of the ob'ects of thepresent invention to provide an improved guide.

In the prior device the guide, which runs l in .the slot'betweencommutator bars and which holds the slotting saw in line with the micawhich normally fills the slot, is pivoted ongthe head member to the rearof the saw. As a consequence, raising -or lowering of the handle beyonda certain critical position tended to'causeonly the toe or the heel ofthe guide toV operate in guiding the saw. I have provided inthepresent-device, i.a guide which is pivoted concentrically with the sawso that the edge of the. guide always stands tangent to the saw andltherefore changing of lthe position of the'handle does not alter theeffectiveness of the guide.v

Speci ication of Letters Patent Patented May 6,1919;

Sex-inl No. 244,228

a detachable wearing shoe which may be' replaced for slots of differentwidths: The

guideI has been Afurther improved by the employment of a c'oiled spring`working in a socket in the head for holding the guide in the slot.

A further object of my invention. is the provision' o'f an improved livespindle for tlie saw and improved means for lubricating the bearings ofthe live spindle and means for ,lubricating the worni shafts.

vA. further object isthe provision ofan adjustable depth controllingshoe for vary- -in'g the depth of the cut of the saw.v

Another improvement.v resides in the com# Abined ,casing and handle andthe provision -of a switch in position where it can conveniently becontrolled by the opeiator.

Further improvements will bevapparent A,from tliefollowing detaileddescription and the accompanying drawings which form a part of vthepi'esent specification.

In the accompanying figures:

Figure l .is a right hand side elevation of the slotting machine of myinvention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal axial section of the same; i

Fig. 3 is a left side view of the head of the machine on `a slightlyenlarged scale; i F ig. 4 is a right hand side view ofthe head with lthecutting saw removed;`

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the head showing the shield for the wormand worml and depth shoe, and

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the vslotting machine of myinvention showing the same arranged for use on a coiiimutator.

As shown in'the'accompanying drawy ings, the device of myAinventionpcomprises a slotting saw 1, which is in the forni of avmounted on the outer end of the driving shaft 6, this shaft being`contained Within the longitudinal handle andframe membeiA l`1 'Y Theshaft 6 isv drivenby a small electric motor 8 of any convenientelectrical characteristics. .r The motor and the shaft are' connected bya suitable coupling 9-12 The combined handle and frame member 7 connectsthe head l3 Withl the motor! 8, `the rear part of said handle framemember'be` ing-enlarged as shown at`11to form a bell or housing closelyembracing the forward end of the motor 8. This housing or bell portion-11 is secured to the motor frame by suitable studs which thread into theend of i the motor frame. These studs pass througlrv ears or lugsextendingin'wardly from the opening 15. The clamping nuts 14 thread overthe studs and hold the bell firmly in place on the en d of the motorframe so that the edge of thebell engages the shoulder 16. The bell 11is provided with ornamental openings The driving shaft is coupled to themotor shaft 10 by a pair of toothed coupling members 9l and 12.which arereadily separable. The end of the shaft 6 projects into the portion 9 ofthe coupling, thus holding the two shafts together in aX-ial alinementThe'driving connection is secured by the offset tongues and notches inthe coupling members 9 and 12 -respectively. 5

Y A collar 80 is pinned to the shaft' 6 Vand 40, the roller thrustbearing 18 lies between the collar and the shoulder 81 in the extension31of the -head 3. The thrust of the Worm is in an outward direction; ananti-friction bearing on the other side of the collar is not necessary.

The worm 5 vis threaded or otherwise' mounted upon the outer reduced endof the shaft 6 and is held in p lace by means of the screw 21. The shaft6 has a bearing 19 at the front end in thehead3 as indivcated at 19. Therear end of the shaft is supported from the bearing 22 Vof the motorframe. Axial motion of the shaft 6 is prevented in the forwarddirec-tion by the thrust bearing 18 and in the other directionby thecollar 89 which engages the end of the' frame and handle member 7.

A'rear handle and frame member 24 is providedwith a bell member 25 whichis secured upon the rear .end yof the motor frame by means of thecounter-sunk headed screws 26 which fasten tothe motor frame. The cablewhich carries theconductors for the `motor enters the rear lend of thehandle i member 24 through an insulated bushing 28 gether.

and passes through the switch 29 to the `motor 8. This switch 29 is ofthe push pin variety having a pin 30 which is shoved from one side tothe other to open and close theycircuit. This pin is surrounded by alinger depression 85.

' The head member 3 is p rovided with a tubular extension 31 which isvinternally threaded to receive the threaded extension 32 of theelongated lframe member 7 The 75 two partsare pinned together by meansof the screw 33. f

The head member 3 is provided with transverse bearings for the sawspindle 2, these bearings being formed in the projecting members 34 and35 ,(see Figs. 5 and) which have a slot between them for receiving theWorm wheel 4. The slot in the front of the head member 3 which forms theextensions 34 and 35 is just wide enough to receive the worm gear 4 andto hold the same in alinement with the worm. The live spindle 2 has ahollow bore 37, which is adapted to be filled with grease. Openings 38and-39 from the bore 37 to the outside of the spindle, provide meansvfor lubricating the bearings in the extensions 35 and 34 respectively.v

The live spindle is provided with a transverse pin 40 which serves -as akey to connect the worm wheel 4 with the spindle 2. The Worm Wheel 4 isprovided with slots or keyways 41 on each side of the central bore toreceive the ends of the pin 40 for keying the worm Wheel and the spindleto- A shoulder 42 is formed by turning down the idle end of the spindle2 and this shoulder abuts against the side face of the worm' wheel 4` toposi-tion these parts' deinitely with respect to each other. The pin 40is of a length .no greater than the larger portion of the spindle 2 sothat the spindle may be introduced into .the bearings axially from theleft as shown in Fig. 6. The idle end of the spindle 2 is provided witha collar or washer 43 which is pinned to the spindle and is held inplace by means of the screw 44 which threads into the open end of thebore 37. A

The end of the spindle which carries the 115 saw 1I is provided with acollar 45 ywhich' seats in a. corresponding annular recess in thebearing of theextension 35 and which thereby tendsv to prevent axialdisplacement of the spindle 2 to the right as shown in 120 Fig. 6. Theend of the spindle 2` is proyided with a collar v46 shown more clearly'1n Fig. 4, this collar being of an outer diameter substantially equalto the central opening in the saw 1 so that the saw may 125 as a key forpreventing slippage of the saw with respect to the spindle.

' The adjacent portion of the head is pro- I vided with a cylindricalbearing surface/49 -upon'i'vhich 1s mounted the guide member 50. Theguide 50 comprises a Hat plate adapted to fit on the cylindrical bearing'and to lie betweenthe saw 1 and the right hand-side surface of the headmember 3. This guidemember is providedzwitha rearwardly extending guideshoe supporting 'portion 51, shown more clearly in Fig. 3.

permits the'guide. to take hold as soon as the cutter or saw enters theslot.

The main body of the, guide member 5() has a shoulder 54 which engagesthe -pin 55.

The pin55 is attached to theplunger 56 whichplunge'r is controlled by aspring 57. The spring 57 lies in .a` suitable socket in the head member3 Iand tends to force the plunger 56 with its attachedl pinl 55, down--ward and this pressure is transmitted to the.

guide member -50. Thus fo'rd varying positions of the handle the guideshoe 53 will tend to be held in the slot of`the'comm'uta-- tor. A .smallanti-friction roller 58 on the pin 55 provides for easier operation ofthese parts. The motion of the guide member' 50. is limited by'a pin 59which lies in a Slot or notch 60 formed on the adjacent edge of theguide member 50.v The outward motion of the spring plunger 56 is limitedby the rear end of the depth controlling shoe 61 which shoe lies overthe recess in which the spring and the plunger are located.

It will be apparent from thel above de-J* scription that 4the mountingof the guide `member .50 concentrically with theaxis of the saw 1insures a constant and unvarying relative 'position betweenthe saw andthe Y guiding shoe 53, The lower edge of the guiding shoe 53' is'placedsubstantially tangent with the edge of the saw-and consequently anyvariation in the radial position ofthe guide member 50 will have noeffect upon the relative posit-ion of these two`parts.

The depth controlling shoe 61 comprises a separable member attached tothe bottom of the head member 3 closely adjacentl the saw 1 and theguide member 50. The bottom of the shoe 6.1 is suitably curvedimmediately below the ysaw 1 soy that the same may ride 4easily alongthevcommutatorbars regardless' Ysmaller end of the frame 7 vand of theposition of the handle. The rear end of the shoe 61 has an extension 62which is' clamped to the bottom of the headv 3 by means of the screw 64.A fulcrum pin 65, which projects into a shallow recess in the bottom ofthehead member 3 serves to control the setting of this adjustable shoeto give -thedesired depth of cut. To adjust the depth controlling shoethe clamping screw 64 is loosened and the vfulcrum pin 65 4is thenadjusted and the clamping screw 64 again tightened up.

The depth controling shoe 61 is seated and held laterally in the slotwhich is formed between'the lower portion 66 of the cylin-y dricalbearing 49 and a projecting shoulder 67- formed 'on the bottom portionof the r extension 35.

The left hand side of the head member 3 is providedwith asquare grooveto 'guide the vertical portion 68' of the bracket 68 which bracketsupports the guiding roller 69. The guiding roller is adapted.toengagethe surface of the commutator for holding the saw 1 in`radialpositionwith respect to the commutator so that the slots between barsmay `be accurately cleaned without damage to the and gear from injuryand prevents 1any'f i thing accidentally `getting into the same."V

I have provided means for lubricating the bearing 19 in the grease cup77 which lies between the extensions 34 and 35 back of the worm wheel 4:nd which 'has a wick which extends up info contact with the bearingportion of the shaft 6. An oil hole is tapped diagonally from the top'ofthe headl 3 for y the thrust bearing18. .This oil hole is 'normallyclosedby the screw 78. r

I have provided a felt. washer or barrier 79 within vthe frame 7 toprevent, as far as possible, .any dust or dirt getting intothe enteringthe bearings 18 and 19. l j

Ido not intend to belimited to the` precise details of constructionshown and described, -as it is apparent that modifications within thescope of the appended claims are possible without departing from thespirit of the inventionl i The operation of the device described isasfollows: Slotting of the commutator 80, shown in Fig. 11 isnecessitated by the wearing down of the copper bars 81 faster than Vthemica or other suitable insulating mathe brushes. The push button switch29 in therear handle 24 is operated to supply current to the motor 8.The motor 8 drives 'the shaft 6 andthis shaft, through the worm 5 andthe worm wheel 4, turns the spindle in a counter clockwise direction .asindica-ted in Figi 1. The saw 1 is then pressed against the edge of themica and guided by hand for a very short distance until the guiding shoe53 takes hold and thereafter the entire device is automatically guidedto cause thesaw to run in the slot. n

As clearly shown in Flg. 11, the aXis of the roller 69lies'substantially parallel with a tangent to the circumference of thecomi mutator 80, consequently the roller 69 itself stands substantiallyradially with' respect to the commutator, 'and the roller can be ad-`justed as to relative height, s0 that when the sawcuts down into themical the required depth, the roller Vwill Contact with the com-lmutator, and 4at thev same time the depth guide 6'1 will also rest -uponthe periphery of the commutator and .these two will effec- Qtually guidethe slotting machine onv the l stea-dying the device against lateraltilting commutator rand control the depth of the cut off the saw. Thisisl an important point, i

as it relieves the operator of the strain of or other condition ofimbalance and results in more accurate and even trim-ming of the mlca.

vThe roller 69 carries considerable of the weight` of the device and asit is arranged to roll on the surface of the commutatoras the deviceadvances in the cutting operation, it facilitates the cutting and itOife-rs no hindrance to the guiding and depth controlling function ofthe depth guide G1. The

result of the operation of the device is to cut away the mica insulationstrips 82 to a point below the outer surface of the commuta'tor bars 81and thus provide the slots 84, Fig.A 11, the depth of which slots iscontrolled as hereinbefore described.

The bracket 68 may be adjusted to -accommodate commutators of differentdiameters. The roller 69 is provided with a rounded face or tread invorder to roll readily upon different size commutatore. y

The hollow, spindle has its bore 34l packed with hard grease and thiscan con-f veniently be accomplished whenever the screw 47 is released tochange a saw. lThe entire handle driving shaft and motor is adapted tolie in a plane parallel to the plane of the saw and may readily be movedup and down in that plane without in` any manner disturbing the relationof the saw and the guiding shoe with the slot in which the sawfisworking. Y

I claim: n

1. In a device of the class described, a circular slotting saw, aspindle for the saw and a guide lying in the plane of the saw andpivotally mounted concentrically with the spindle of the saw.

. 2. In combination, a saw spindle adapted to carry a saw, a guideadapted to lie in the y same plane as the saw, said guide being pivotedconcentrically with the saw spindle,

-a controlling handle in the front end of which said saw spindle isjournaled and spring means between said handle and said guide.

3. In combination, a head member, a hanmounted transversely in the headwith respect to the handle, a guide member pivot- .ally' mounted on thehead concentrically with the saw spindle, a guiding shoe secu-red tosaid guiding member, said shoe being adapted to lie in substantially thesame plane as the saw, a recess said head member, a spring lying in saidrecess and a pin adapted for transmitting pressure from said spring tosaid guide member.

4". In combination, a. head member having 100 a transverse saw spindlejournaled therein. a saw mounted on said-journaha guide member mountedon the head and adapted to swing concentrically with the saw spindle, aguiding shoe on said guide member, said guiding shoe having a lower edgeadapted to lie at all times substantially tangent to the saw.

head having a cylindrical bearing, aguiding member mounted on the,cylindrical bearing, said guide member having a guiding shoe held insubstantially the same plane as the saw, a recess in the head, a

spring plunger in said recess 'and a pin*A adapted fortransmittingpressure from said spring to said guide member.

6. In combination, a head having a transverse bearing therethrough, asaw spindle in said bearing, said spindle having a circular saw mountedon oneaend thereof, said head having a cylindrical bearing between thesaw and the adjacent portion of the head, a

guide member having a portion journaled on said cylindrical bearing andhaving a portion extending rearwardly from the saw,

a guiding shoe mounted on said rearwardly Aextending; portion, said shoebeing adapted dle secured to said head, a. saw spindle 5. Incombination, a head member, a transverse spindle Journaled. in saldhead. member, a saw mount-ed on the spmdle, said.

to lie in substantially the same plane as the saw, said he'ad having arecess therein, a

spring plunger in the recess, a pin connected with the plunger andbearing on therearf wardly extendingr portion and a depth controllingshoe closing the outer end of said recess.' c Y 7. In'v combination, asupporting member having a pairv of bearings in vaxialv alinenient, aspindle supported in said bearings,

said spindle -having a hollow bore, transverse lubricating p'assagesfrom the hollow bore to said bearings, a worm Wheel keyed to ,saidvspindle between 'said bearings, a rotary cutting member 'and a screwplug threading into said bore and holding said cutting member onthe end'o said spindle.

8. In a device of the class described, a hollow spindle havingtwobearing portions, said -spindle having passagew'ays between the bore ofthe spindle` and the outsideof said bearing portions, la pin passingthrough saidV spindle' intermediate said bearing -p'or.

tions for providing attaching means for a driving wheel,.said spindlehaving ashoul` der at Aone *end thereof, adapted to ft against said plugfor closing said end a rotary cutter shoulder, a screw of the bore andfor clamping the cutter against said shoul der, 'a collar for the otherend 'of the spindle and a screw plug threaded into the adja-l cent endof thebore for holdingsaid collar on the end ofthe spindle.

9. In combination, a frame member, a

transverse spindle journaled in said frame member adjacent each end ofthe spindle, a driving 'gear keyed to the spindle intermediate s bracketbearing a roller on one side of the gear supported on said fra-memember, a rotary cutter secured to the spindle on the other side of saiddriving gear and a depth controlling '.shoe having a screw threadedadjusting member for clamping the shoe to i the frame member between therotary cutter `oted with thespindle, a groove between the boss and thedriving wheel, a depth controlling shoe lyingin said groove and guidedagainst lateral 'displacement and screw threaded means for controllingthe position of the depth controlling shoe and for clamping said shoe tothe frame member in said oove.

l1. In a device of the class described, a

y depth controlling in said id bearing portion, an adjustable depthcontrolling shoe, a vframe member, said frame member having a pair ofre-l cesses, one of said recesses beingl screw threaded, la screw pinpassing through the -shoe into said threaded recess, a fulcrum pinsecured to said shoe and passing into the other recess in said f framemember.

12. Ina device of the class described, a head member, a transversespindle-journaled y head member, a driving wheel for the spindle, arotary cutter secured'to the spindle, a cylindrical boss on the headinem- Jber, concentric with the spindle, said boss lying adjacent therotary cutter, a guide member having an eye fitting over said c1rcularboss, said guidemeinber having a rearivardly extending po'rtion'and aguide shoe secured to said rearwardly extending portion, said guide shoelying substantially in the plane of said rotary cutter.

' 13. Incombination, a head member having a transverse bearing, a cutterspindle mounted in said transverse bearing, said cutterspindle having a.lubricating opening through the 'side wallthereof, a rotary cuttermounted onthe outer end of s 'aid spindie, and a screw plug for closingthe outer end of the bore and forclampng the rotary cutter on thev endof the spindle.

14. In combination, a motor having a circular frame, a hollow frame andhandle member having a bell fitting over one side pf the frame 'of themotor, means for clamping said bell to the motor frame, a shaft securedaxially in line with the motor shaft,

a head memberl mounted on the outer endv of the frame and handle member,a rotary cutter mounted in said head, said cutter bei ing driven saidshaft, a rear handle member having'a bell embracing the opposite side ofthe frame of the motor, conductors for the motor passingl through saidhandle member.

15. In combination, a motor having a circularv frame, a hollow frame andhandle member having a bell' fitting over one side of the frame of themotor, means for clam'pf ing said bell to the motor frame, a shaftsefcured axially in line with the motor shaft,

a head member mounted on the outer end of the frame and handle member, arotary cutter mounted in said head, said cutter being driven by Saidshaft. a rear handle member having a bell embracing the opposite side ofthe frame of the motor, conductors for the motor passing through saidhandle member, and a switch mounted in said handle member atY the rearend-thereof, said switch having a transverse operating member :dapted toproject from the sides of.

the handle member.

16. Iii a device of the kind described, a motor, a hollow Ihandle memberand a frame member between which themotor is mounted, a shaft mountedwithin the frame member in axial alinement with the motor shaft, a headmember mounted on-the outer end, of the frame member, a rotary cuttermounted in said head, said cutter being adapted to be driven by saidshaft, and conductors for the motor passing through said handle. 1

17. In a device of the kind described, a motor, a hollow frame memberhaving an enlarged end for embracing the motor, a shaft secured axiallyin line With the motor shaft and extending through said frame, a headmember mounted on the outer end 0f the frame, a rotary cutter mountedinthe head and adapted to be driven by said shaft, a. rear handle memberalso havingv an enlarged end for embracing the motor and conductors forthe motor passing through said rear handle member.

18. In a device of the kind described, a circular slotting saw, aspindle for the saw,

a guide lying in the plane of the saw and 19. In a device of the kinddescribed, a longitudinally extending handle member, a

.transversely mounted rotatable saw spindle in the slot made by the sawand movable to permit the handle to extend at diierent inclinations. l y

, 20. In a device of the kind described, a longitudinally extendinghandle member, a transversely mounted rotatable saw spindle at'one endof the handle, a circular slotting saw on the spindle, a 'guide carriedby the handle and in the plane of the saw, and having an edge extendingsubstantially tangenti to the periphery of the saw and mounted to swingaround the Asaw in the plane thereof, and spring means interposedbetween the guide and .the handle member for .maintaining the guide'yieldingly *pressed-:into the saw slot at all inclinations of the'handle.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of July,A. D. 1918. FRANK E. AURAND.

